Breeding Barn Owls are protected against disturbance near the nest as well as at the nest.
Therefore, if Barn Owls are present very close to a development site, all reasonable measures should be taken to ensure that no disturbance is caused. This is particularly important during the breeding season to ensure that no offence is committed under the relevant wildlife legislation. The penalty for an offence involving a Barn Owl, its nest, or egg, includes a fine of up to £5,000, or up to six months imprisonment, or both, per bird, nest or egg.
Barn owl surveys are often carried out at the same time as a preliminary ecological assessment of a structure for bats.
Download Barn Owl Trust’s Barn Owls & Rural Planning Applications – A Guide
Contact us online or call our main enquiries number on 01626 638042 for our South & North Devon offices where we will be happy to discuss your project.
Orbis Ecology Ltd is a Registered Practice with the